Closed All For One PV MS

The day had finally arrived. Their plan to save San from her wretched torture was going to be put into effect and drag the San they knew away from the monster that had plagued her. For days, Gray had been having sleepless nights from the pressure that was all on their shoulders. San was slowly dying, and if they didn't act fast enough she was going to slip further into insanity and drive away from the lovely girl they knew.

For now, he was alone. He had been following San for a while up until she reached the rehearsal room, one that was spacious and perfect for their trap. Having a large, confined area was going to be pivotal in securing their victory. With more room, they were able to have more freedom as well as perform a quick escape if needs be. Although, he hoped it never to that. This needed to be dealt with once and for all before anyone was harmed by this evil.

Percival stared straight ahead of him blankly as he leaned up behind the wall, a sadness brewing inside his chest from how much things had changed. Then suddenly, the sound of a piano echoed from inside. His heart seemed to melt from what he was hearing, a far cry to a San he used to know and admire greatly. There was still something deep down fighting against the cruel slug, and if that meant they had to fight with her so be it.

Slowly, her fingers came to a stop. Silence followed for a few moments until her voice called out to him unknowingly. She knew he was watching, and it had to happen eventually when he confronted the girl he loved most. With a deep breath, he revealed himself in the door. For now, his wand was undrawn but his face showed one of determination and sadness. All he wanted was to keep her safe and keep to his promise, failure would only destroy him. At this point, there was only so much more he could take.

"San... it's me," he said softly, tears beginning to well up in the corner of his eyes while he struggled to keep it together "Deep down you are still in there. I don't care how long or what it takes, I'm going to fulfill my promise and save you from this nightmare you're living..." Percival continued in a lowered tone, his breaking slightly when he glared into her sunken features.

Everything that once made her beautiful had been tainted on San, changing her into a person they barely recognised anymore. Right now, they all had a chance to change that back. It was now or never...

Action: Distract San while the others arrive

@Santario Martin | @Alan Vanes | @Percival Gray | @Levi Drakos | @Bridget Collins | @Orion Lecuyer

Howard had spent the day lost in thought. His body went through the motions as he went from this class to that as the daily routine of a Hogwarts student played out. Though he was present in body his mind was consumed by the hardship to come. Part of the collective shadow that had once threatened his own soul now had its grip around Santario. The very evil that had seeped through the castle like a cancer and threatened so many of those he held dear reared its ugly head once more. Howard had grown to hate it after he had finally rid himself of its influence and he would be damned if he allowed anyone else to succumb to it. Santario was merely an acquaintance, but he would stop at nothing to preserve her humanity. Though he had lost part of his own he had come to cherish what was left of it. That light within that had nearly been lost to darkness. Against all odds Howard had become its champion. That urge to protect fueled his actions as their plan began to unfold. Today they would make their stand and rid this castle of the hags presence once and for all.

Evening would come and Percival would follow Santario, waiting for the right time and place for them to corner her. Howard followed at a distance and soon enough they would come to the Rehearsal Room. No better place really as it gave them room to maneuver. Percival would enter first. A distraction, a last ditch effort to reach out to the shred of humanity left within her. Howard slipped though the door, moving slowly at first as he scoped out the situation. What he would see was merely a husk of what she had once been, but she was armed and at the ready. Images of the night they saved Erin briefly flickered through his mind. The slugs within had done everything in their power to remain inside her and he knew this would be the same. They had to be eradicated. They had to be destroyed!

Howard would pause, attempting to block escape while they waited for the rest of the rescue party to enter. As soon as they did he wouldn't waste a moment. Regardless of what Santario did his action would be the same. If she tried to flee, he would pounce. If she attacked, so would he. One way or another Howard would attempt to pin her.

Action: Grapple Santario. (A move from the Martial Artist ability set)

@Alan Vanes, @Howard White, @Percival Gray, @Levi Drakos, @Orion Lécuyer, @Santario Martin

Bridget was not sure she'd ever dreaded a day as much as she did today. The nerves before finals or a duelling match just did not compare, and most of the dangerous situations she'd been in had been spontaneous, not something she had time to wait for, to think about. By the time she had climbed into bed the night before, the reality of time steadily ticking away had set in and with it her stomach churned with nerves. She spent a while reviewing the plan and any notes that seemed useful until she was more tired than she was anxious.

And maybe she should have been looking forward to today. If all went according to plan, they would have Santario back. This would be over, her teammate would be safe. And Bridget really did want that. But she had no delusions this would be easy. The last time she'd faced a hag had not gone well at all, and though Santario was not yet a hag--she would never be, they were going to stop that--Bridget couldn't help but make the comparison.

Time passed weirdly, the minutes both seeming to drag on and fall away too quickly, but now she was here. Percival was out front, the rest of them trailing. They were sneaking up on Santario so as to not alert her of their presence early enough for her to get away, and the silence needed for that was no issue; she'd spoken very few words all day. Bridget stuck near the back of the group since there were other, older people here to take the lead. The fact she was with two older students and a professor provided considerable reassurance. Things still went wrong with adults around and one more year of experience didn't necessarily make that much of a difference, but she trusted they were competent. It was less pressure on her; her abilities might actually be enough to cover the role she needed to fill this time.

Percival was to go first. To gauge how Santario reacted, sort of, but mostly to hold her attention until everyone else was in place. He would not be in there alone for long, thankfully, as they stepped inside one by one. She looked briefly at Santario. Somehow the half-dead girl she'd seen at the duel now appeared even worse. It was hard to see her and the girl she'd gone undefeated with last year as the same person. But they were going to fix this, she just had to stay focused. Once they were all in, Bridget would push the door closed. She didn't move to lock it, at least not yet, the idea mainly to block any slugs from escaping into the halls.

Action: Close the door (once everyone is inside)

Alan had probably never been as nervous as he had been that very day. This was nerve wrecking and frightening and more real than anything that has ever happened to him before. He had actually done right by San and now it was to prove that she was not beyond saving and that he could get his friend back. He had to save her and he had to believe in her strength as well. He was glad for the help of all the other people that had gathered for this quest and with Orion there, he felt a bit more at ease. They would succeed with no doubt but however it would still be the likely most frightening experience he had ever gone through.

As Alan entered the room, his eyes would instantly snap to Santario, worry in his own eyes. "I am just trying to help you, please let me... let us... help you," he muttered as he stepped towards her, though he kept his distance as to not provoke the part of her that was no longer herself. "You are still you, so please don't fight us because somewhere within you there is still the girl I know". He had never thought he would ever have to raise his wand at someone he cared about but this was to protect and save his friend, so it would be okay. He only hoped Santario would be alright, that she would recover and return to her previous state. "I miss you, San" he whispered, before he gave his wand a swish. Once all the people he expected to be present were present, he would put a charm on the door to lock it shut. So that neither San nor any of the parasites within her would manage to leave this room, before they succeeded.

Action
Locking Charm on the Door, once everyone arrived

A plan had been discussed and set, and there was absolutely no time to lose. Orion's students had perhaps never seen their professor like this before, as he wore a blank expression during their discussion and as they tracked the changeling down. It was a familiar tactic for him to conceal his emotions behind a barrier and disassociate from any personal biases and connections. Nervousness, unease, uncertainty were human emotions, but they got you killed on the field faster than any spell. So, he would force himself not to think about the things growing inside of his pseudo daughter and feasting on her humanity.

You also could not be nervous about the team you were apart of. Was it a perfect selection? Not by any means. Promising young students, but most were still doe eyed, growing into their powers. There was also Percival Gray, a menace of a boy who Orion was not particularly fond of after he had broken Santario's heart.

But every trap needed bait. Percival was perfect for that.

He had order Bridget to stay behind him the minute Santario vomited a single slug. The creatures were not to be trusted, especially not around females. Howard was to restrain the girl, fine with Orion considering he had seen Erin Ryan's struggles and slugs blasting through her teeth. He would rather make this as painless as possible for Santario.

A sad melody would set the mood for the feat they were about to take. The others would take time with niceties, perhaps lull the girl into a false sense of security. Yes, no one was about to point their wands at her. They just wanted to talk to her, tell her how much they missed her. Orion did too, but he wasn't about to state as much. Why drag this out? The slugs needed to get out of his pseudo daughter, the faster the better. He would comfort her after the damn things were out and murdered ten times over by his own hand.

He entered the room and allowed Alan to lock the door. He silently crossed the room until Santario was directly in his line of sight. Then, he grabbed his elder wood wand from his belt's holster and pointed it directly at the Slytherin prefect. "Slugulus Eructo!" He cast without a second thought.

| @Alan Vanes | @Howard White | @Percival Gray |
| @Levi Drakos | @Bridget Collins | @Orion Lécuyer |

His voice reached her before his face did and the ever familiar look of rage settled on her features when she saw him. “I should have killed you in the dorms.” The harsh statement dripped from her lips like a monotone sludge to rival that of toxic waste. “I knew keeping you alive would only bring me trouble.” She had wrestled with trying to kill him multiple times over the past few weeks, but there was part of her deep down that somehow always seemed to win out, and she never went through with it. There was always the logic that she was tied too closely to him, and getting rid of him could cause her more harm than good. It was better to isolate.

A familiar face crept through the door, slinking like the bump in the night he thought he was. However, this time, there would be no smile for the dhampir that she enjoyed the company of when she had the very rare chance to have it. There would be no as I live and breathe Howard White. Instead, the dhampir got narrowed eyes and a look of disdain. It did not take the changeling long to realize that this was, in fact, the ambush she had been paranoid about for weeks.

If it had stayed Howard and Percival, she was confident she could take them, especially since Howard was the only one making an aggressive move against her. Yet, they were far more intelligent than Percival and Santario when they confronted Erin. Bridget came through the door, soon followed by Alan with nothing but praises of love that took her attention off Howard. “Well, I don’t miss you. Just SHUT UP!” The rage started to get the best of her as she shouted at Alan, her wand raising.

The next face would halt her in her tracks, wand half raised. Orion Lécuyer walked through the door, her basically adopted father at this point, and she knew she was fucked. “Well, if you really want a fight.” She sneered, and just as Orion cast the slug vomiting charm on her, she flicked her wand at Percival. “Mimblewimble!” It only made sense to try and tongue tie the one with the tightest hold on her heart.

Action| Casting Mimblewimble on Percival.

Banner by Winnie Harper

@Santario Martin, @Alan Vanes, @Howard White, @Bridget Collins, @Orion Lécuyer, @Percival Gray

A haunting song had seeped into the corridor, a puddle at his feet. Levi counted quietly in four-four time, the last of the group remaining in the hall after the others had slipped through the door. It was a shame he had to make the memory here, let the dungeons ripple upward from their cavernous home into the echoing architecture along the Rehearsal Room ceiling. Everywhere he looked he saw those damp stone walls, heard her voice an octave up, drawing him in with a siren’s whistle tone. Even now, in the notes of the ivories, her own melody lingered, though perhaps that only fell on his ears.

They needed to lock the door. Prevent her from running into the night and blending in with its darkness, turning to charcoal dust and leaving no print on sunlit land. He knew someone would take care of it after he filed into the room like a good boy, useless in the presence of his seniors and of people that perhaps the old Santario would’ve cared to see. But still there. He himself could bury his cold body beneath a comforter but to do so was in more shame than to throw himself to the ground and sacrifice for her cause. To save her. She’d want him—no—need him then. He wasn’t sure that was the best outcome anymore, but it was all he knew to chase.

He slid between the doors, settling in the familiar corner behind their hinges. The playing had ceased, even the lingering tone of the final note had settled like dust, yet the melody lived on as if clung to his inner ear. He’d shake himself sick before dropping it down, living with the phantasmal sonata; at the very least, it quieted other things. Shirt pulled tight around his collar, he still subconsciously scratched at an inch unreachable, buried beneath a bundle of memorized memories and useless, hysterical after thoughts.

Levi’s fingers grazed his wand, not yet pulling it from its place, choosing not to address Santario. Percival had distracted her, then Alan, but her unrecognizable gaze always flickered back to her former patrolling partner. What she saw there was the dull muting of the glimmer in Levi’s armor, but a word would shatter it, leaving him without protection. At her disposal again, a point in life he both wanted and hated to be. A disappointing outcome, like a crescendo that cuts off entirely at its peak. Replacing it, a displaced sequence of notes, none of which make sense, all of which have to be interpreted in a language no human spoke.

He frowned. It was a horrid situation. And still, was this pity he felt? No, not quite. Not even reminiscent of what authors romanticize as sadness. The Gryffindor supposed it didn’t matter; motivation being ill or pleasant, it all added up to the same result. That was proven by the fact he was even capable of existing in the presence of Percival Gray. It was only a matter of seconds before things kicked into gear, swollen incantations and rushed movements crushing the air, and with a bland look at his allies, Levi drew his wand and took a stance.

Action: Preparing to cast.

The heroes filed in one by one. Ready to face off against Santario, who had managed to wiggle under their skin in one way or another. Percival had entered; first, her stalwart defender trying to speak words to remind her of just that while Howard eased his way into the room, getting into position. If anyone was built enough to be able to wrangle the lithe girl, it would surely be the dhampir.

Bridget and Alan followed on their heels. Alan had nothing but words of love trying to reach the heart encased in toxic black goo. They both readied themselves by the door, and just as soon as everyone was in, Bridget shut the door securely behind them, and Alan would magically lock it. It was the same tactic Percival and Santario had done; hopefully, it would not backfire on the Scooby gang like it had them.

Colloportus WDC
4 + 7 = 11

Santario spit acid words at both Alan and Percival, making sure she cut as deeply as she could with them. Her wand raised towards Percival, and she stared at him with a burning hatred. Her wand raised, and the motions started, but something seemed to change in her eyes just at the last second as they flicked over to none other than Levi. One would not think that the word Mimblewimble could be ended in a chomping motion, but Santario managed it just for him.

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 12] + 9 = 21 > 9 → Success
Auto Hit: [d20: 2] Fail
Accuracy Check: [d20: 1] + 12 = 13 Crit Fail
Redirected: Levi
New Acc: [d20: 11]
Evasion Check: [d20: 17] + 8 = 25
11 < 25 → Miss

It was a good thing Levi was already readying himself for the real enemy. Because of that, he managed to evade Santario’s spell with ease. I would be just at that exact moment that Howard’s arms wrapped around her own, pinning them to her sides. What Howard, possibly, didn’t anticipate was the small, quiet, and graceful girl turning into more of an inhuman beast than she already was. The screams he elicited from her lips were more akin to a banshee as she thrashed against him with all her might.

Accuracy Check: [d20: 10] + 17 = 27
Evasion Check: [d20: 17] + 7 = 24
Santario Str: [d20: 17] + 3 = 20
Howard Str: [d20: 1] + 14 = 15

Santario would break free and turn on Howard dropping her wand to the ground. Her eyes were wild as she opened her mouth, saliva dripping from her upper canines, and just before she pounced on Howard, she was slammed with Orion’s spell forcing her to take a few steps away from the older Hufflepuff.

Wisdom DC: 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 20 = 23 > 11 → Success
Auto Hit: [d20: 3] Fail
Accuracy Check: [d20: 15] + 18 = 33
Evasion Check: [d20: 15] + 7 = 22
33 > 22 → Hit

Orion had come in stone faced with one mission. Remove the parasites from Santario’s body, and he would succeed where she had failed. His aim was true, and as Santario stumbled back from Howard, one hand went to her stomach, and the other rested on her throat. “No.” Santario whimpered as her stomach started to ungulate under her hand. A mass far too large to fit inside her body moved its way up her esophagus and seemed to stop in her throat. Panic flooded her eyes as her oxygen supply was cut off in the mere moment that truly would feel like an eternity.

Dry heaves followed in an attempt to expel the slug from her throat, and finally, Santario bent over her jaw unnaturally unhinging, and a black slug, as big as a large house cat, hit the ground with a sickening plop followed shortly by splashes of viscera and the slugs that naturally came with the spell. Santario gasped frantically for air as the slug’s lamprey-like mouth turned towards its aggressor.

Accuracy Check: [d20: 5] + 10 - 1 = 14
Evasion Check: [d20: 9] + 15 = 24
14 < 24 → Miss

Slug1 would glide across the room with incredible speed and attempt to latch its mouth onto Orion, but the Hit Wizard was far too prepared and determined not to let the slugs do any more harm than they already had.

What Happened

Santario| 700/900 HP - Vometing Slugs 1/3 Rounds - Cast at Percival redirected to Levi. - Took Damage from evacuating slug. - Dropped Wand
@Percival Gray| 700/700 HP - Braced for attack
@Howard White| 1100/1100 HP - Grappled Santario, but could not hold her.
@Bridget Collins| 1000/1000 HP - Closed the Door
@Levi Drakos| 700/700 HP - Evaded an errant Mimblewimble
@Alan Vanes| 1100/1100 HP - Locked the Door
@Orion Lécuyer| 700/700 HP - Successfully cast the Slug Vometing curse at Santario

Slug 1| 1000/1000 HP - Attempted to latch onto Orion and missed.

"Kill me? even in the current state you're in you would have the heart to do that San..." he fired back to the girl, keeping his undivided attention on her as the others filed into the room. They all knew their jobs, all that was needed was calm and effectiveness to drag San out of her monstrous shell. Gray knew they had the numbers to do it, but hag slugs were always unpredictable.

Gray chose to stay silent as the others spoke their minds, all of them right in their own regard. Every one of them wanted the old, caring San back in their lives. If it meant sacrificing their own health they'd do it no matter what, whatever it took to get her back was worth it in the end.

The sound of a door locking came from behind them as Orion stepped forward silently. Without a single word he raised his wand and prepared to fire the slug charm directly at San. At the same time, she raised hers and and aimed it directly at Gray, who seemed more than ready to take the blow if needs be to protect the others. Yet, during the final moments her eyes seemed to change and switched to the stalker known as Levi in anger.

Percival snapped his head to the boy who thankfully dodged before looking back to San. She had been hit successfully, but that was only a small victory. Seeing her in discomfort like that made him frown deeply. He was fighting with himself to go over there and help her in anyway possible, but even he knew she had to do this alone. Fighting back tears, he watched in horror when she vomited up the first slug, a disgusting creature which had no meaning to be in their world.

Sadness soon turned to anger when he pulled out his wand and aimed it directly the putrid creature, swishing to cast to the spell at the top of his lungs "Immobulus!" with a face that looked absolutely disgusted with its very existence.

Action: Cast Immobulus at the slug